Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Assisting the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Alec would have been almost to the left of John Faulkner, I think, and that is saying something. Rod cultivated Alec Marr because Rod had an environmental policy that actually appealed to the genuine environmentalists. They always say that Robert Hill and David Kemp were two of the best environment ministers ever. But there was a serious element in saying that they were both set up for it by the work that Rod did as the shadow environment minister in the time leading up to the 1996 election. Rod and Daniele leave this place with the very best wishes of all of us, particularly from me and my wife, Lesley. We want to thank you both for the kind friendship that you have shown to us, and I know that you have shown to everyone else, in the time that you have been in the Senate.

Senator Lightfoot is a very courageous senator. His presence and his speech here tonight demonstrate a courage that many of us would aspire to. Senator Lightfoot is not well at the moment. He has a disease which, I think, he got from working in the mines in some remote part of west Africa. As has been mentioned, Ross has had a very distinguished career in two parliaments. I think he is one of the great orators of this parliament, and his presence will be missed. He has a real knowledge of the mining industry and mining policy and he is a very committed Western Australian. As well as his policy advice, I will also miss his advice on shares. Ross was always a good source for a good tip on a penny-dreadful mining operation in Western Australia. He seemed to know everyone involved in the mining industry—which ones were rogues and charlatans and which shares might have a bit of a future sometime down the track. I will not thank Ross for the money I have made out of share trading in the penny-dreadfuls, because I am a notoriously bad judge myself; but the one or two successes I have had might have been attributed to Ross Lightfoot. I wish Ross all the very best in the future and I do hope that his health allows him to continue to lead a very fulfilling life in the service of our country.

Finally, I mention Senator Sandy Macdonald. Notwithstanding his other, very obvious, qualities, the one thing that is very clear about my friend Sandy is that he has a name that will be forever revered in parliamentary annals and is synonymous with commitment, ability, portfolio success, and for being just a downright decent person. I might add that it is only coincidence that the New South Wales agriculture minister and another senator in this chamber share the same name, but the descriptions I gave are applicable to Sandy alone. I was often distressed that Sandy was not a member of the Liberal Party during his very distinguished term here, but I hasten to add that there were not many—if any at all—issues in a policy sense where Sandy and I would have had a difference of opinion.

Sandy has had a difficult time in this political game. He would never complain, but it distresses me a little that his loyalty and commitment were treated, I think, so shabbily. That is a feeling that I have, and I know that Sandy is too large a person to dwell on that. In the difficult journey he has had in this parliament, he has conducted himself so very well. I know what he achieved as a minister in the former government. His legacy will be seen for a long while in the portfolio successes he had. Over the years he has achieved a lot for the people of New South Wales. Sandy and Alice leave this chamber with the best wishes of Lesley and myself. I know we will see Sandy around in the future—probably in the corporate world achieving even greater success than he has achieved here. Sandy, you have been very generous with share tips as well, and between you and Ross they are the only successes I have ever had. I know that you will forge a very successful career in whichever direction you choose.

All of our colleagues leave with the goodwill and best wishes of all of us. They also leave with my thanks for their friendship, support and advice over the time that I have known them all in this chamber.